13 DE
14 EN

We Care. Research for your Health.

1 Merz Worldwide
- 1.1 Austria
- 1.2 Switzerland
- 1.3 Russia
- 1.4 USA
- 1.5 UK
- 1.6 Mexiko
2 Company
- 2 Company
- 2.1 Philosophy
- 2.2 Facts and Figures
- 2.3 Management Board
- 2.4 History
- 2.5 Merz Pharmaceuticals
- 2.6 Merz Consumer Care
- 2.7 Merz Dental
- 2.8 Merz Hygiene
- 2.9 Merz Pharma Group
- 2.10 Locations
3 Research & Development
- 3 Research & Development
- 3.1 Clinical development program Neramexane/tinnitus
4 Professionals
- 4 Professionals
5 Health
- 5 Health
- 5.1.1 Alzheimer’s
- 5.1.2 Depression
- 5.1.3 Dystonia
- 5.4.4 Cold Remedies
- 5.2.1 Hair loss
- 5.4.7 Health Care Baths
- 5.3.1 Liver Disease
- 5.3.2 Scars
- 5.1.4 Parkinson’s
- 5.4.11 Vitamins & Minerals
- 5 more
6 Beauty
- 6 Beauty
- 6.1 Wrinkles
- 6.2 Skin Care
- 6.3 Beauty from Within
7 Press
- 7 Press
- 7.1 Press Releases
- 7.2 Photos & Logos
8 Career
- 8 Career
- 8.1 Merz as Employer
- 8.2 Job Opportunities
- 8.3 Directions
- 8.4 Contact
9
- 9 Contact

7 Press
- 7.1 Press Releases
  - 7.1.1 Company
    - 7.1.1.1 2000
    - 7.1.1.2 2009
    - 7.1.1.3 2010
    - 7.1.1.4 2001
    - 7.1.1.5 2002
    - 7.1.1.6 2003
    - 7.1.1.7 2004
    - 7.1.1.8 2005
    - 7.1.1.9 2006
    - 7.1.1.10 2007
    - 7.1.1.11 2008
  - 7.1.2 Health
- 7.2 Photos & Logos

Merz Pharmaceuticals and Tel Aviv University Become Partners in Novel Drug Technology Development for Treatment of Alzheimer's

Tel Aviv, Israel/Frankfurt am Main, 10.07.2007

A novel drug technology to treat Alzheimer's disease developed by Prof. Ehud Gazit and his team of researchers at the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences at Tel Aviv University (TAU), Israel, was licensed to Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH by Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd., the University's technology transfer company. The worldwide exclusive license deal includes an upfront fee and milestone payments as well as royalties on future sales.

The technology developed at TAU was one of a portfolio of technologies that were selected to be funded by an $8.5M investment raised by Ramot in 2003 from a group of US investors. Ramot's licensing partner Merz Pharmaceuticals is one of the main pharmaceutical players in the area of Alzheimer's disease research and development. With Memantine, Merz' blockbuster anti-dementia drug, the company has proven its expertise in successful development of innovative Alzheimer's disease treatments.
"Our goal is to offer novel therapeutic options of additional benefit to the patients by developing innovative new drugs within our main area of expertise, the treatment of CNS disorders," says Dr. Alexander Gebauer, Head of Global R&D. Dr. Martin Zuegel, CEO of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, explains: "The partnership with Ramot to further the development of TAU's cutting-edge technology marks an important next step in reaching our ambitious goal."

"These drug candidates, as well as other central nervous system-related technologies, are the fruits of innovative life science and medical research performed at TAU," adds Prof. Hagit Messer-Yaron, TAU Vice President for R&D.

"We believe that our cooperation with Merz Pharmaceuticals will lead to the development of long sought-after effective treatment for some of the most devastating illnesses known to date," commented Prof. Zvi Galil, President of Tel Aviv University.
Alzheimer's disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder. In its early stages, it impairs cognitive function, causing memory loss, language deterioration, reduced ability to process visual information, delusional thinking and poor judgment. As the disease progresses, cerebral deterioration severely compromises basic cognition and daily function. At a more advanced stage of the illness, the increasing loss of independence leads to an increased need for supervision and possibly even full long-term care.

Alzheimer's dementia, clearly the most devastating of neurodegenerative diseases, poses a global public health challenge and will continue to do so for generations to come. The Alzheimer's Association estimated two years ago that 4.5 million Americans and 15 million people worldwide suffer from Alzheimer's disease. These figures were projected to nearly triple that number by 2050 due to the ageing of populations in the developed world.

About Tel Aviv University

Founded in 1963, Tel Aviv University is one of Israel's foremost research and teaching universities. Located in Israel's cultural, financial and industrial heartland, Tel Aviv University is at the forefront of basic and applied research in a wide variety of scientific research disciplines, including engineering, exact sciences, life sciences, medicine, social sciences, management, law, humanities and the arts.
More information is available online at www.tau.ac.il.

About Ramot at Tel Aviv University Ltd.

Ramot is the technology transfer company of Tel Aviv University. Ramot fosters, initiates, leads and manages the transfer of new technologies from university laboratories to the marketplace by performing all activities relating to the protection and commercialization of inventions and discoveries made by faculty, students and other researchers. Ramot provides a dynamic interface connecting industry to leading-edge science and innovation, offering new business opportunities in a broad range of emerging markets.
For more information, visit www.ramot.org.

About Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH

Merz Pharmaceuticals is an innovative pharmaceutical company specializing in the research and marketing of drugs for the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases. Merz is leading in the field of Alzheimer's research and developed the world's first drug for the treatment of moderate to severe stages of Alzheimer's disease. In the neurological sector, Merz also offers drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's and depression.
For more information, visit www.merz.com.

About Memantine

Memantine is an NMDA-receptor antagonist, the first in a class of AD medications with a unique mechanism of action that focuses on the glutamatergic system. Glutamate is the most common excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, and the modulation of the glutamatergic neurotransmission is a major target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Memantine was developed by Merz and licensed to Forest for the U.S. and Lundbeck for selected European and international markets.